Berklee School of Music vs. Hampshire College

Comparable Facts

Compare Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA with Hampshire College in Amherst, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Berklee College of Music is larger than Hampshire College based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 844 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Hampshire College is in Amherst, MA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Hampshire College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berklee College of Music 9:1; Hampshire College 13:1.

Berklee School of Music vs. Hampshire College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or Hampshire College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Hampshire College than Berklee School of Music ($27,895 vs. $49,797).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hampshire College are 19.9% lower than at Berklee College of Music ($15,958 vs. $19,930).
• Hampshire College is 13.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Berklee School of Music (about $6,856 more per year; $58,896.00 vs. $52,040.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.2% higher at Hampshire College than at Berklee College of Music (about $6,856 more per year; $58,896.00 vs. $52,040.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hampshire College than at Berklee College of Music (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hampshire College students is 97.7% larger than aid received by Berklee College of Music students ($46,145 vs. $23,346).

Berklee School of Music vs. Hampshire College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Berklee School of Music or Hampshire College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Hampshire College and Berklee School of Music.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berklee School of Music - Test-free; Hampshire College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027; Hampshire College Jan 15, 2027.
• Hampshire College has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than Berklee School of Music (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Berklee School of Music vs. 14.4% at Hampshire College.

Berklee School of Music vs. Hampshire College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Berklee School of Music and Hampshire College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Hampshire College's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than Berklee College of Music's (52%).
• Graduates from Hampshire College earn a median of about $700 more per year than Berklee School of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,100 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Hampshire College graduates have a $1,719 lower median loan debt than Berklee School of Music graduates ($23,531 vs. $25,250).
• Among borrowers, Hampshire College graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Berklee School of Music graduates ($243 vs. $261).
• More Hampshire College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Berklee School of Music students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.